Northwest Middle School offering Spanish classes for all teachers [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Teachers at a Knox County school are learning Spanish to better communicate with their students. This comes after school leaders noticed an increase in Hispanic enrollment, and school leaders began working to overcome language barriers between teachers, students and parents. 

According to Joann Gardner, principal of Northwest Middle School, Hispanic enrollment has doubled in the last two years. According to data from NICHE, a company that collects data about communities across the U.S., the school is ranked number six as the most diverse middle school in the state. 

At the middle school, teachers and administrators are learning the basics of Spanish. Joe Hassell has worked at the school for seven years. Now, he’s learning Spanish to meet a need at his school. 

“The biggest need when our kids …